guidelines for teacher opportunity corps...

Guidelines for Teacher Opportunity Corps Proposals

TEACHER OPPORTUNITY CORPS (TOC)

2014-2017

ANNOUNCEMENT OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Legislative Authority:The Teacher Opportunity Corps (TOC) was established under

Chapter 53 of the Laws of 1987. This Announcement is intended

to assist institutions in applying for Teacher Opportunity

Corps grant contracts for 2014-2017.

Purpose/Goal:The purpose of TOC is to enhance the preparation of teachers and

prospective teachers in addressing the needs of students at risk of

truancy, academic failure, or dropping out of school and to

increase the participation rate of historically underrepresented and

economically disadvantaged individuals in teaching careers.

TOCs intent is to provide prospective and current classroom

teachers with training that:

is focused on teaching strategies and pedagogy designed to meet the learning needs of at-risk students;

is integrated with strong academic content;

incorporates the use of mentors and other support systems for preservice and new teachers;

reflects recent research on teaching and learning and incorporates best practices;

is aligned with New York State Teaching and Learning Standards.

is sustained, intensive, high quality, and designed to ensure a lasting and positive effect on classroom performance; and

fosters retention in teaching of highly qualified individuals who value diversity and equity.

Funding:Eight projects were funded during the 2013-2014 funding

cycle. The allocation for 2013-2014 was $450,000. Funding for the TOC program year of 2014-2015 will be $450,000 per the approved State Appropriation.

The project period will be from July 1-June 30, subject to the continuation of the State Appropriation.

*Note: All awards will be capped at an amount not to exceed $80,000 per year.

Matching Requirements:A minimum 15 percent match of approved TOC grant contract is required. The matching requirement may be met through the institutions own resources, private sources, other government sources, and/or in-kind services. Other State funds may be used in this match, but may not duplicate services provided. All matching contributions must be used for activities related exclusively to the TOC project, and institutional accounts must be structured to reflect this contribution by the appropriate line item.

Important Dates:Full proposals must be postmarked by Friday, June 27, 2014

Q & AQuestions regarding this grant must be e-mailed to

[email protected] Tuesday, June 10, 2014

A Question and Answers Summary will be posted at:

http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/resteachers/toc.html

no later than Tuesday, June 17, 2014.

For Information andNew York State Education Department

Not-for-profit ApplicationOffice of Teacher and Leader Effectiveness

Submission, Contact:89 Washington Avenue

Room 977, Education Building Annex

Albany, New York 12234

(518) 486-6848

[email protected]

For-profit ApplicationNew York State Education Department

Submission:Attn: Teacher Opportunity Corps

Contract Administration Unit

Room 501W EB

89 Washington Avenue

Albany, NY 12234

The State Education Department does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, religion, creed, disability, marital status, veteran status, national origin, race, gender, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or sexual orientation in its educational programs, services and activities. Portions of this publication can be made available in a variety of formats, including braille, large print or audio tape, upon request. Inquiries concerning this policy of nondiscrimination should be directed to the Departments Office for Diversity and Access, Room 530, Education Building, Albany, NY 12234.

The University of the State of New York

THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

Office of Teacher and Leader Effectiveness



Albany, NY 12234

Guidelines

For Submission of Teacher Opportunity Corps Proposals

For the Period 2014-2017

Proposals Postmarked by Friday, June 27, 2014

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I.APPLICATION GUIDANCE7

II.INTRODUCTION9

III.PURPOSE9

IV.RATIONALE9

V.MISSION AND PRINCIPLES10

VI.INSTITUTIONAL ELIGIBILITY11

VII.PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS11

VIII.PARTICIPANT ELIGIBILITY13

IX. TOC OBJECTIVES AND KEY STRATEGIES14

X.PROJECT EXPECTATIONS16

XI.PROJECT SCOPE AND PRIORITIES16

XII.FUNDING LIMITATIONS17

XIII.BUDGET18

XIV.PROJECT SCHEDULE20

XV.PREQUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT21

XVI.APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS22

XVII.NARRATIVE FORMAT23

XVIII.METHOD OF DETERMINING AWARD AMOUNTS28

XIX.PROPOSAL RATING, DEBRIEFING, AWARD PROTEST PROCEDURES30

XX.Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) Participation Goals Pursuant to Article 15-A of the New York State Executive Law32

XXI.VENDOR RESPONSIBILITY34

XXII.WORKERS COMPENSATION COVERAGE AND DEBARMENT35

XXIII.CORRESPONDENCE36

TOC-Attachment I Instructions for Completing Program Objectives, Strategies, Activities, Services and Performance Measures/Data Sources38

TOC Attachment II Statement of Assurances47

TOC Attachment III Teacher Opportunity Corps 7/1/14-6/30/15 MULT-SOURCE PROPOSED BUDGET48

Attachment IV TOC Application49

TOC Attachment V Application Checklist50

TOC Attachment VI Budget Form (FS-10)52

TOC Attachment VII NEW PAYEE INFORMATION53

Attachment VIII M/WBE Documents55

TOC Appendix IX Sample MOA69

TOC-Appendix X Economically Disadvantaged Eligibility Requirements70

TOC-Appendix XI FOCUS DISTRICTS74

TOC-Appendix XII Performance Measures for TOC75

APPENDIX A-- STANDARD CLAUSES FOR NYS CONTRACTS76

APPENDIX A-1G83

TOC Attachment XIII EVALUATION RUBRIC85

TEACHER OPPORTUNITY CORPS (TOC)

I.APPLICATION GUIDANCE

Please adhere to the following instructions or your application will not be considered for review.

New Prequalification Requirement

The State of New York has implemented a new statewide prequalification process (described in http://www.grantsreform.ny.gov/Grantees) designed to facilitate prompt contracting for not-for-profit vendors. All not-for-profit vendors are required to pre-qualify prior to grant application. This includes all currently funded not-for-profit institutions that have already received an award and are in the middle of the program cycle. The pre-qualification must be completed by all not-for-profit organizations prior to the application due date in order to qualify for an award under this grant.

Required Signature(s)

The original signature of the Chief Executive Officer (or designee) of the institution must appear on the Statement of Assurances (Attachment II) Page in blue ink.

Partnership Agreements

Applicant information for all partnership agreements must be provided. A signed memorandum of agreement (MOA) is required for all primary partners. The original signature of all primary partnership agreements must appear on the MOA in blue ink.

Number of Copies

Please submit one original and three copies of the full proposal to the Office of Teacher and Leader Effectiveness postmarked by Friday, June 27, 2014.

Questions and Answers

Please submit all questions via email by Tuesday, June 10, 2014, to [email protected]. A Questions and Answers summary will be posted at http://www.highered.nysed.gov/kiap/ted/tocrfp/ no later than Tuesday, June 17, 2014.

Due Date

Applicants are responsible for making sure the application package is complete and sent so that the package is postmarked by Friday, June 27, 2014.

Checklist

Please use the Application Checklist to ensure that you send a complete application package.

Incomplete applications will not be considered for review.

Page Limits and Standards:

You must limit the project narrative to no more than 20 doublespaced pages in a minimum 10 point font and all information requested in this section (excluding resumes, memoranda of agreement and course descriptions) must be contained within the narrative portion of the proposal. The narrative should present a cohesive document with each individual section related to all other sections. The name of the institution must appear in the top right corner of each page. A specific format is required for the information requested in Attachment I. This information

should be provided on Attachment I and be included in the 20 page limit. Single spacing may be used on Attachment I provided the typeface or font is at least 10 point size. The Budget Narrative will be subject to the 20 page Project Narrative limit, but the FS-10 will not.

Proposed Budget for a Federal or State Project (FS-10)

The application must include a budget narrative for each category of expenditure that is required for the grant (Professional Salaries, Support Staff Salaries, Purchased Services, Supplies and Materials, Travel Expenses, Employee Benefits, Indirect Cost, BOCES Services, Minor Remodeling, and Equipment) and a Proposed Budget for a Federal or State project (FS-10). The narrative should include sufficient detail to allow reviewers to understand what the funds will be used for and the relationship between the proposed expenditure and project activities and goals.

The total from each of the Budget Category Forms must correspond to amounts shown on the Budget Summary Form. Please be sure to check all of your calculations for accuracy.

Only equipment items with a unit cost that equals or exceeds $5,000 should be included under Equipment Code 20. Equipment items under $5,000 should be included under Supplies and Materials Code 45.

1

GUIDELINES

For the Submission of Grant Proposals

For Fiscal Year 2014-2017

II.INTRODUCTION

The Teacher Opportunity Corps (TOC) was established under Chapter 53 of the Laws of 1987. This announcement is intended to assist institutions in applying for Teacher Opportunity Corps grant contracts. These grant contracts will support and help shape teacher training curricula and professional development activities which address the needs of at-risk students. Targeted activities will allow teachers and prospective teachers to improve their content knowledge and classroom practice in order to help students achieve academically.

III.PURPOSE

The purpose of TOC is to enhance the preparation of teachers and prospective teachers in addressing the learning needs of students at risk of truancy, academic failure, or dropping out of school and to increase the participation rate of historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged individuals in teaching careers. TOC's intent is to provide prospective and current classroom teachers with training that:

is focused on teaching strategies and pedagogy designed to meet the learning needs of at-risk students;

is integrated with strong academic content;

incorporates the use of mentors and other support systems for preservice and new teachers;

reflects recent research on teaching and learning and incorporates best practices;

is aligned with New York State Teaching and Learning Standards;

is sustained, intensive, high quality, and designed to ensure a lasting and positive effect on classroom performance; and

fosters retention in teaching of highly qualified individuals who value diversity and equity.

IV.RATIONALE

A 1997 New York City Board of Education study compared high achieving and low achieving elementary schools with similar student characteristics and found that "teacher qualifications accounted for more than 90 percent of the variation in student achievement in mathematics and reading." (Education Week Special Report: Quality of Teaching). The study also indicates that urban and poor rural districts have more difficulty than affluent districts in attracting and retaining the best-qualified teachers.

The Teacher Opportunity Corps is part of the State Education Department's effort to resolve the shortage of teachers who are both qualified and prepared to teach at-risk students in severely underserved areas.

Regents Reform Agenda

The Teacher Opportunity Corps shall, to the extent practicable, bolster the Board of Regents Reform Agenda by emphasizing the following key areas:

A. Professional Development that explicitly addresses the Common Core Standards and/or the States Assessment Standards or leadership in an environment with Common Core Standards related to new assessments;

B. An understanding of and implementation strategies for data-driven instruction;

C. Improvement of teacher effectiveness by recruiting, developing, and retaining effective teachers; and

D. Instructional leadership and support of learning for all students, including English language learners, special education, and those far below grade level.

V.MISSION AND PRINCIPLES

High quality training as envisioned here refers to rigorous and relevant content, as well as to strategies and organizational supports that foster the development of new teachers who will bring positive attitudes to the teaching and learning environment. Partnerships among schools, higher education institutions, and other entities are essential in developing these supports for teachers and prospective teachers and for fostering a commitment to life-long learning. Furthermore, training and development are likely to be most effective when part of a system-wide effort to prepare, recruit, select and retain teachers.

Effective TOC projects will provide instructional and enrichment activities that:

increase the participation rate of historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged individuals in teaching careers;

focus on the high performance of all students as the central measure of effective teaching;

enable teachers to develop content area expertise while implementing effective classroom strategies that address the needs of at-risk students;

reflect the best available research and practices in teaching, learning and leadership;

provide prospective teachers with supplemental classroom experiences to plan strategies and to observe and teach at-risk students;

cultivate support systems within and outside the school building that promote and sustain implementation of strategies to address the needs of at-risk students; and

are planned in conjunction with participating school/district partners and other stakeholders.

VI.INSTITUTIONAL ELIGIBILITY

Only New York State public and independent degree-granting colleges and universities or consortia of such institutions that have a teacher preparation program approved by the State Education Department may submit applications. Further, institutions with a pass rate on the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations that is less than 80 percent will not be approved for funding.

VII. PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS

Each institution of higher education (IHE) applicant must establish formal cooperative agreements with appropriate academic content area departments and with an appropriate representative from:

school district(s), BOCES, community school district(s), or a consortium of such agencies; or

school building(s).

These partnerships are to be arranged with schools with high concentrations of economically disadvantaged students. For the purpose of this grant/contract, a High Need School District is one that has been identified as a Focus District and in which there was a shortage of certified teachers in the previous school year and there is a projected shortage of certified teachers in the current year.

A listing of Focus Districts is provided in Appendix III and should be used as the basis for arranging these partnerships. In the event that partnerships have been arranged with schools that are not located in a Focus District, documentation must be provided showing those schools having a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, such as 50% or more receiving free or reduced lunch.

In addition, IHEs are encouraged to establish partnerships with one or more of the following entities:

educational programs or agencies with goals and objectives that are similar or those that recruit, enroll and provide strategies to retain underrepresented students in teaching, especially in mathematics, science, and other shortage areas identified by the United States Department of Education. Programs and organizations include the Teacher Leader Quality Partnerships Program, Future Teachers of America, Science and Technology Entry Program, and Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program, Teachers of Tomorrow Program; and/or

professional organizations or networks such as the New York State K-16 Professional Development Network, local or regional Teacher Resource Centers, etc.

A signed memorandum of agreement (MOA) is required between all primary partners and the fiscal agent for the grant. (Definition of primary partners: include those organizations which provide specific and significant fiscal or other resources for the operation of a TOC project. Such contributions are usually equivalent to at least 15 percent of the TOC grant award and are offered either in real costs or in-kind contributions. Contributions may include the cost of providing substitute teachers in mentor-teacher classrooms, reimbursement of tuition expenses or tuition waivers for paraprofessionals pursuing undergraduate degrees or for initially certified teachers to pursue professional certification or other tuition benefits, etc.) Each MOA must outline the specific services, materials, and/or fiscal resources that will be provided. A sample MOA is provided in Appendix IX.

NYSED Consortium Policy for State and Federal Discretionary Grant Programs

Applicants/participants can form a partnership or consortium to apply for the grant. In order to do so, the partnership or consortium must meet the following requirements:

1. The partnership/consortium must designate one of the applicants/participants to serve as the applicant and fiscal agent for the grant. The applicant agency must be an eligible grant recipient. All other consortium members must be eligible grant participants, as defined by the program statute or regulation.

2. In the event a grant is awarded to a partnership/consortium, the grant or grant contract will be prepared in the name of the applicant agency/fiscal agent, not the partnership/consortium, since the group may not be a legal entity.

3. The applicant agency/fiscal agent must meet the following requirements:

a. Must be an eligible grant recipient as defined by statute.

b. Must receive and administer the grant funds and submit the required reports to account for the use of grant funds.

c. Must require consortium partners to sign an agreement with the fiscal agent that specifically outlines all services each partner agrees to provide.

d. Must be an active member of the partnership/consortium, except where SUNY or CUNY Research Foundations are the fiscal agent.

e. Cannot act as a flow-through for grant funds to pass to other recipients. The fiscal agent must provide a minimum of 60% of all direct services.

f. Is PROHIBITED from sub-granting funds to other recipients. The fiscal agent is permitted to contract for services with other consortium partners or consultants to provide services that the fiscal agent cannot provide itself.

g. Must be responsible for the performance of any services provided by the partners, consultants, or other organizations and must coordinate how each plan to participate.

VIII.PARTICIPANT ELIGIBILITY

TOC projects may offer components for undergraduate and/or graduate students, new teacher inductees, current classroom teachers preparing for professional certification, and/or paraprofessionals and others preparing to become teachers. Participants enrolled in TOC projects must be:

a sophomore, junior, or senior enrolled full-time in a registered undergraduate teacher education program leading to initial certification; or

a paraprofessional, such as teacher aide or assistant, currently employed full-time and currently matriculated part-time in a teacher education program; or

a graduate student enrolled full-time or part-time in a registered graduate teacher education program which satisfies the academic requirements for professional certification; or

a student enrolled in an SED approved alternative teacher certification program; and

a resident of New York State. A resident is defined as a person who:

is or will be an undergraduate who resides in New York State and who lived in New York State for the last two terms of high school prior to graduation; or

resided in New York State at the time of entry into military service, VISTA, or the Peace Corps and re-established New York State residency within six months after release from service; or

has resided in New York State for 12 months immediately preceding the term for which he or she is seeking acceptance into TOC and has established documented permanent residence in New York State; or

has demonstrated the desire to enter the teaching profession and agrees to serve one year in a teacher shortage or subject shortage area for each award received as a condition of receiving the award.

Teacher Opportunity Corps projects must serve participants in any or all of the following three Priority Groups:

First Priority given to individuals who have been historically underrepresented and underserved

in the teaching profession. For the purpose of TOC, these groups include individuals who are African American, Hispanic, Native American or Alaskan Native.

Second Priority given to individuals who are economically disadvantaged. For the purpose of TOC, an individual is economically disadvantaged if he or she meets any of the criteria described in Appendix II.

Third Priority given to any other individual who is not historically underrepresented in teaching nor economically disadvantaged. Appropriate evidence of the rationale and justification for each applicant admitted to the Corps in this category must be provided by the institution. Institutional rationale/justification must include the following:

evidence of effectiveness and results of efforts to recruit Priority 1 and 2 participants;

a description of the recruitment and selection process for Priority 1 and 2 participants; and

a statement illustrating how the inclusion of Priority 3 participants will fulfill the legislative intent of the Teacher Opportunity Corps.

IX. TOC OBJECTIVES AND KEY STRATEGIES

It is important to note that all funded projects must conduct the required objectives within the project period dates specified. For year one, 7/1/14 - 6/30/15, all projects must conduct all TOC activities according to the Objectives outlined below. In year one, activities must be conducted between 7/1/14 and 6/30/15. For project periods two and three, activities must be conducted between 7/1 and 6/30 each year of the grant.

The State Education Department will support projects that address the objectives listed below.

To meet these objectives, all TOC projects must implement strategies that address the intent of the TOC legislation as well as other state and national education goals or priorities. These objectives and key strategies are to be explained in the charts provided in TOC Attachment I. A chart is provided for each objective (selected examples of successful strategies are listed below each objective).

Objective 1: Provide sustained, intensive and high-quality instructional and enrichment activities addressing the needs of at-risk students.

Implementation Strategies

Plan, organize, and implement program models/components that enable teachers/prospective teachers to develop effective classroom strategies in assisting at-risk students to meet the New York State Teaching and Learning Standards and to graduate from high school college and career ready.

Provide comprehensive in-school classroom training for all participants.

Evaluate, replicate, and disseminate proven strategies that prepare, retain, and support teachers of at-risk students.

Objective 2: Provide strong academic content and effective strategies and practices that value equity and diversity and increase the ability of teachers/prospective teachers to meet the needs of at-risk students.


Provide specific coursework that enables TOC participants to acquire the academic content necessary to teach at-risk students and apply successful classroom methodologies that incorporate equity practices.

Provide coursework that focuses on strategies to implement content materials and methods which remove all barriers that may limit student success.

Provide coursework that reflects recent research in best practices, such as inquiry based learning, brain compatible learning, etc.

Provide a continuum of services that support participants in acquiring the skills, attitudes, and knowledge necessary to teach at-risk students.

Provide partnerships that link mentors with all TOC graduates upon completion of their program(s) of study and/or during the first year of full-time teaching assignment.

Objective 3: Align academic content and classroom strategies with New York State's Teaching and Learning Standards.

See Link: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/ciai/standards.html

Implementation Strategy

Support and collaborate with schools/districts in implementing rigorous course content and performance standards for teachers and all students in their classrooms.

Objective 4: Increase the number of teachers who are appropriately certified in New York States high-need schools.


Develop collaborative relationships to increase the number of teachers in high-need districts who enroll in programs leading to permanent certification.

Develop collaborative relationships to increase the number of students from underrepresented groups who enroll in and complete teacher preparation programs.

Develop collaborative relationships to increase partnerships with the K-12 community to recruit, prepare, and support new teachers of at-risk students, particularly those working in high-need districts.

Objective 5: Establish and maintain partnerships to maximize TOC resources and increase student/program success.


Identify and leverage other public and private resources available for the same purpose and with the same focus.

Provide a forum to elicit input and feedback from graduates, mentors, and school personnel.

Establish a planning agenda to address key issues, plans, strategies, and performance of the TOC program and local teaching needs.

X.PROJECT EXPECTATIONS

All institutions awarded a TOC grant will:

Accomplish all project activities within the approved proposal period;

Prepare all TOC participants to make the connection between coursework and classroom instruction, curriculum development and alignment with the New York State Teaching and Learning Standards;

Help TOC participants develop strategies to teach students with a broad range of cultural backgrounds, English Language Learners, students with disabilities, and students with other special learning needs;

Prepare all TOC participants to develop and implement curricula using materials and resources from a wide variety of cultures, learning styles, etc.; and

Provide new teachers with ongoing support systems that promote strong classroom management skills and sustain life-long learning.

XI. PROJECT SCOPE AND PRIORITIES

Priority will be given to those institutions that:

1. Document positive outcomes and benefits resulting from activities and services provided in the schools/districts served by an existing or previous TOC project.

2. Demonstrate improvements in student performance in the classrooms served by previous TOC teacher graduates or current participants.

3. Document plans for positive outcomes and benefits resulting from activities and services provided in high need districts.

4. Document partnerships arranged with schools with high concentrations of economically disadvantaged students. A listing of eligible Focus Districts is provided in Appendix XI and should be used as the basis for arranging these partnerships. In the event that partnerships have been arranged with schools not located in Focus Districts, documentation that the school(s) has a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, such as 50% or more receiving free or reduced lunch, must be provided.

5. Outline a plan to target services to one or more of the following groups of teachers and prospective teachers:

uncertified subject area teachers and academically deficient teachers who are employed in one or more of the school districts with extraordinary needs (see Appendix XI),

recent recipients of baccalaureate degrees who are interested in teaching careers but who have no prior teacher training, or

current classroom teachers holding an initial or transitional teaching license and seeking professional certification.

6. Outline a plan that provides a continuum of services and activities for classroom teachers and recent graduates of teacher training programs holding initial certification to pursue graduate degrees leading to professional certification.

7. Outline a plan that provides in-service education for currently certified teachers in urban or rural schools/districts, where the average student performance falls below the statewide average achievement in any core subject.

8. Provide matching contributions for participant tuition support equal to or greater than the tuition support requested from the grant.

XII.FUNDING LIMITATIONS

Funding for the TOC program year of 2014-2015 will be $450,000 per the approved State Appropriation. The project period will be from July 1, 2014-June 30, 2015.

Only one proposal per eligible institution may be submitted for funding.

All funding requests will be reviewed at the time of proposal submission. If certain costs cannot be supported by TOC funds, the institution will be given the opportunity to adjust its proposed budget. For information regarding award methodology, see Section XVIII. Method of Determining Award Amounts.

*Note: All awards will be capped at an amount not to exceed $80,000 per year.

XIII. BUDGET

Budget Form (FS-10)

Applicants must submit a FS-10 budget with this application, for the initial 12 month project period of July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015. The 12 month budget will be reviewed and scored.

The applicant must complete the FS-10 Budget Form. Budgeted costs must be in compliance with applicable State and federal laws and regulations and the Departments Fiscal Guidelines. These guidelines, as well as the FS-10 form, are available online at the following web address http://www.oms.nysed.gov/cafe. The FS-10 must bear the original signature of the Chief School/Administrative Officer.

Information about the categories of expenditures and general information on allowable costs, applicable cost principles and administrative regulations are available in the Fiscal Guidelines for Federal and State Aided Grants at http://www.oms.nysed.gov/cafe/guidance/guidelines.html.

The budget should be reasonable and appropriate to cover program expenses.

For more information, visit the website at http://www.oms.nysed.gov/cafe/guidance/faqs.html#indirect

A. Use of Funds

1. Activities funded under a TOC grant will be administered according to a written agreement between the State Education Department and the participating institution.

2.Amendments to the proposal during the course of the year that involve changes in the manner in which TOC funds are expended must have prior written approval from the Office of Teacher and Leader Effectiveness. Expenses for activities not included in the approved budget will not be reimbursed by the State.

B.Allowable Expenses

Allowable direct costs include the following:

1.program services such as professional and nonprofessional salaries, fringe benefits, consultants, etc.;

2. receipted TOC-related travel expenditures for project personnel;

3.program and instructional supplies and materials;

4.teacher licensing examination preparation; and

5.program evaluation activities.

Note: The use of grant funds for honoraria to individuals who provide approved service funded by TOC is permitted; however, an honorarium may not be paid to an individual whose salary is either in whole or in part funded by TOC funds.

C.Indirect Expenses

1. Indirect expenses provided by the TOC award may not exceed eight percent of TOC grant expenditures.

2. Indirect expenses provided by the institution may not exceed 20 percent of the matching funds contributed by the institution and other sources.

3. When computing Indirect Costs, the basis used cannot include tuition, stipends, honoraria, or equipment, and it can include only the initial $25,000 of each item included in the category of Purchased Services.

D.Fringe Benefits

The rate for fringe benefits cannot exceed the actual rate paid by the institution.

The current cap for fringe benefits paid by the grant contract is 42.67 percent.

E. Transfer of Funds

1. Budget transfers of more than 10 percent in any category must be submitted as a budget amendment. Form FS-10-A: Proposed Amendment for a Federal or State Project must be used to request a budget amendment and must be submitted to the NYSED TOC liaison for review. All FS-10-A forms must be submitted anytime between the start date of any funding year and July 31st of that year. Funds should not be expended until the budget amendment has been approved in writing. If the amount of the modification is equal to or greater than ten percent of the total value of the contract, the modification will require the prior approval of the Office of the State Comptroller.

2. Funds up to 10 percent of line categories may be transferred between approved line categories without prior written approval. However, NYSED must be informed in writing of all amendments made to an approved budget within 30 days of each occurrence, but no later than May 31st of the program year.

F.Institutional Funds

1.Matching Funds

A minimum 15 percent match of the approved TOC grant is required. The matching requirement may be met through the institution's own resources, private sources, other governmental sources, and/or in-kind services. Other State funds may be used in this match, but may not duplicate services provided. All matching contributions must be used for activities related exclusively to the TOC project, and institutional accounts must be structured to reflect this contribution by the appropriate line item.

2.Program Support

The institution must provide sufficient space and other resources for the effective operation of the program.

3.Institutional Obligation

Institutions approved for funding will have an obligation to honor the institutional amount committed in support of the program in each budget category. This obligation will be reflected in the approved budget agreed to by the State Education Department and the institution. The budget may be amended during the year following the procedures stated in Section XIII. Budget: E. Transfer of Funds.

G.TOC Payment Schedule

Please refer to the FISCAL GUIDELINES FOR FEDERAL AND STATE AIDED GRANTS at: http://www.oms.nysed.gov/cafe/guidance/guidelines.html

XIV. PROJECT SCHEDULE

A.Operation Dates

For year one, projects may begin as early as July 1, 2014 but must be completed by June 30, 2015. Expenses incurred prior to July 1, 2014 or after June 30, 2015, will not be reimbursed. The subsequent two years will be funded at the same level as was awarded for year one, subject to the continuation of the State Appropriation.

B.Required Reports

Each institution receiving a TOC grant will be required to submit a Final Report to the Office of Teacher and Leader Effectiveness. The Final Report will provide information about all project operations and expenditures and identify project accomplishments for the 2014-2015 program year. The Final Report will be due at the completion of the program (no later than August 31, 2015). A format for the Report will be provided.

XV.PREQUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT

Pursuant to the New York State Division of Budget Bulletin H-1032, dated June 7, 2013, New York State has instituted key reform initiatives to the grant contract process which require not-for-profits to register in the Grants Gateway and complete the Vendor Prequalification process in order for proposals to be evaluated. Information on these initiatives can be found on the Grants Reform Website.

Proposals received from not-for-profit applicants that have not registered and are not prequalified in the Grants Gateway on the proposal due date of Friday, June 27, 2014 cannot be evaluated. Such proposals will be disqualified from further consideration.

Below is a summary of the steps that must be completed to meet registration and prequalification requirements. The Vendor Prequalification Manual on the Grants Reform Website details the requirements and an online tutorial is available to walk users through the process.

1) Register for the Grants Gateway.

On the Grants Reform Website, download a copy of the Registration Form for Administrator. A signed, notarized original form must be sent to the Division of the Budget at the address provided in the instructions. You will be provided with a Username and Password allowing you to access the Grants Gateway.

If you have previously registered and do not know your Username, please email [email protected] . If you do not know your Password please click the Forgot Password link from the main log in page and follow the prompts.

2) Complete your Prequalification Application.

Log in to the Grants Gateway. If this is your first time logging in, you will be prompted to change your password at the bottom of your Profile page. Enter a new password and click SAVE.

Click the Organization(s) link at the top of the page and complete the required fields including selecting the State agency you have the most grants with. This page should be completed in its entirety before you SAVE. A Document Vault link will become available near the top of the page. Click this link to access the main Document Vault page.

Answer the questions in the Required Forms and upload Required Documents. This constitutes your Prequalification Application. Optional Documents are not required unless specified in this Request for Proposal.

Specific questions about the prequalification process should be referred to your agency representative or to the Grants Reform Team at [email protected].

3) Submit Your Prequalification Application

After completing your Prequalification Application, click the Submit Document Vault Link located below the Required Documents section to submit your Prequalification Application for State agency review. Once submitted the status of the Document Vault will change to In Review.

If your Prequalification reviewer has questions or requests changes you will receive email notification from the Gateway system.

Once your Prequalification Application has been approved, you will receive a Gateway notification that you are now prequalified to do business with New York State.

Vendors are strongly encouraged to begin the process as soon as possible in order to participate in this opportunity

XVI.APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Interested institutions must submit one original and three copies of the application for funding. The original must be clearly identified and signed in blue ink. An application for funding requires the original signature of the Chief Executive Officer (or designee) of the institution on the Statement of Assurances (Attachment II). Not for profit applications for funding must be postmarked on or before Friday, June 27, 2014 to:

New York State Education Department

Office of Teacher and Leader Effectiveness



Albany, NY 12234

For Profit applications for funding must be postmarked on or before Friday, June 27, 2014 and mailed to:

New York State Education Department

Teacher Opportunity Corps RFP


Room 505W EB


Albany, NY 12234

An application for funding meets the deadline requirement if it has a legible postmark, shipping label, invoice or receipt from the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier bearing the date of Friday, June 27, 2014 or earlier. Private metered postmarks will not be accepted as proof of meeting the required deadline. Hand delivered applications must be received by the Office of Teacher and Leader Effectiveness by 5:00 p.m. on or before Friday, June 27, 2014.

Proposals that do not meet the deadline requirement will not be considered.

A complete application for funding consists of the following items in the order indicated:

A.Table of Contents

B.Narrative that covers, in order, the information requested in Section XVI

C.Objectives Matrix (Attachement I)

D.Statement of Assurances (Attachment II)

E.TOC 2014-2015 Proposed Budget (Attachment IV)

F. Completed Payee Information Form (Attachment VII)

G. Signed Memoranda of Agreement (MOA)

XVII.NARRATIVE FORMAT

The proposal narrative should describe the 2014-2015 proposed activities in full detail, including the overall goals, planning, implementation, and evaluation of all proposed activities. It may not be more than 20 double-spaced pages in a minimum 10 point font, and all information requested in this section (excluding resumes, memoranda of agreement, course descriptions and the FS-10) must be contained within the narrative portion of the proposal. The narrative should present a cohesive document, with each individual section related to all other sections, and must adhere to the format indicated below. The name of the institution must appear in the top right corner of each page. A specific format is required for the information requested in Attachment I. This information should be provided on Attachment I and be included in the 20 page limit. Single-spacing may be used on Attachment I provided that the typeface or font is at least 10 point size. Failure to adhere to these guidelines or to include required information will result in an unfavorable review.

A.Project Abstract (2 Points)

Provide a concise description of the proposed project which includes the project's purpose and goals (maximum length: two pages). No other program information should be included on the abstract pages.

B.Equity/Access Initiatives (8 Points)

Describe institutional efforts and progress toward serving the needs of teachers and students from historically underrepresented and underserved populations, teachers seeking initial or professional certification, students at risk of truancy and academic failure, and school districts with a large concentration of economically disadvantaged students. Institutions previously funded for a TOC program must describe the results of such efforts, including but not limited to: number of teachers from historically underrepresented groups graduated, number of teachers certified and description of curricula for at-risk students.

C.Cooperative Relationships (10 Points)

Provide a description of the roles and responsibilities of local education agencies, school district(s), and all other parties who will participate in the project. Specify how each collaborating party will contribute to the project. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that describes collaborations must be attached.

TOC programs should collaborate, where appropriate, with other programs and initiatives that address the needs of teachers seeking certification or students who are at risk of truancy and academic failure. Describe the institution's plans to coordinate and integrate Teacher Opportunity Corps activities into a systematic approach of enhancing teacher preparation programs.

Describe any cooperative relationships with other departments within the institution that will provide services to TOC students.

D.Program Objectives, Strategies, Activities, Services and Performance

Measures/Data Sources (40 Points)

Use the forms provided in Attachment I: Program Objectives, Strategies, Activities,

Services and Performance Measures/Data Sources

Objective 1: Provide sustained, intensive and high-quality instructional and enrichment activities addressing the needs of at-risk students. (8 Points)


Plan, organize, and implement program models/components that enable teachers/prospective teachers to develop effective classroom strategies in assisting at-risk students to meet the New York State Teaching and Learning Standards.



Objective 2: Provide strong academic content and effective strategies and practices that value equity and diversity and increase the ability of teachers/prospective teachers to meet the needs of at-risk students. (10 Points)


Provide specific coursework that enables TOC participants to acquire the academic content necessary to teach at-risk students and apply successful classroom methodologies that incorporate equity practices.





Objective 3: Align academic content and classroom strategies with New York State's Teaching and Learning Standards. (4 Points)

See Link: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/ciai/standards.html

Implementation Strategy

Support and collaborate with schools/districts in implementing rigorous course content and performance standards for teachers and all students in their classrooms.

Objective 4: Increase the number of teachers who are appropriately certified in New York States high-need schools. (12 Points)


Develop collaborative relationships to increase the number of teachers in high-need districts who enroll in programs leading to professional certification.



Objective 5: Establish and maintain partnerships to maximize TOC resources and increase student/program success. (6 Points)





For each objective, be sure to address the following:

Objectives and Strategies

List specific objectives to be accomplished. Objectives must support the TOC objectives and key strategies and should be measurable. Objectives should be focused on improving the preparation of teachers of students who are at-risk, and on increasing the number of individuals from historically underrepresented groups who enter teaching careers. Each of the TOC objectives listed should be addressed.

Activities and Services

List and describe each activity and service that supports the achievement of each objective. Include required, TOC- specific courses, the level of each course, and the credits provided. (Courses identified should not include those that have traditionally been required by the institution to fulfill degree and/or teacher certification requirements.)

Teacher Opportunity Corps services must include, but are not limited to, the following:

Field placements exclusively with at-risk students. (Do not include student teaching experiences required by the institution for the fulfillment of degree requirements.) Where possible, field placements should be arranged at schools identified as schools with extraordinary needs. A listing of Focus Districts is provided in Appendix XI. In the event that field placements are not arranged with schools listed in Appendix XI, documentation must be provided that those schools that are not in a Focus District and have a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, such as 50% or more receiving free or reduced lunch,.

Collaboration with the partnering school to provide mentoring during the first year of teaching after participation in the Corps.

Courses which address pedagogy, motivation, and other factors related to teaching of students who are at risk.

Counseling Tutoring

Staff Responsible

Indicate staff responsible for the implementation of each activity or service.

Timeframe

Indicate the start and end dates, the timeframe, and the duration of each activity or service.

Measures/Data Sources

For each objective, describe the performance measures/data sources that will assess its efficacy. Indicate the populations to be served and the tools and instruments that will be used.

E.Recruitment (10 Points)

1.Describe all strategies and activities that will be used to recruit and select participants.

2.Fully describe recruitment strategies designed to attract and enroll Priority I participants: African American, Hispanic/Latino, or Native American/Alaskan Native.

3.Identify the academic and other criteria to be used in selecting program participants. Be specific.

F.Project Staffing and Management (5 Points)

1.Describe a management plan that will assure the effective completion of project activities given the fiscal and other resources available.

2.Provide an organization chart which indicates the management structure of the program within the institution.

Note:TOC programs must operate under the aegis of departments, schools or divisions of education. Direct involvement of education faculty is required.

3. Briefly describe all professional staff positions (full-time and part-time, paid and volunteer) that will be assigned directly to the project. Do not identify individuals, but do define role and scope of designated positions.

4. List the names and titles of all full-time and part-time professional and instructional staff for the project. Provide current resumes for all professionals in the project.

5. Provide an organization chart for the project which indicates the reporting line for the project director and all other staff.

G. Budget and Budget Narrative (Not-for Profits Only) (25 Points)

1. Indicate the proposed expenditures for the project on Attachment IV: TOC 2014-2015 Proposed Budget. The attachment must provide complete information and indicate all proposed expenditures from TOC, institutional and other source funds. The budget must be consistent with the scope of services, reasonable, cost effective and the staffing pattern is appropriate for the services to be offered. (10 points)

2. Budget narrative expenditures descriptions (including descriptions of institutional and other source contributions) must follow the general format of Attachment IV: TOC 2014-2015 Proposed Budget using the same sequence of categories and code numbers. The budget justifications must be clear and appropriate. (10 Points)

3. Each salaried position is identified by title, anticipated salary amount and the time contribution to the TOC Program. Indicate the per diem or hourly rate for each consultant identified under the Purchased Services Category. Provide the unit rate or estimate for all services or items. (5 Points)

Budget (For-profit Only)

Reasonableness of cost will be determined by the cost per school served. The submitted budget will be awarded points pursuant to a formula which awards the highest score of 25 points to the budget that reflects the lowest overall cost per school. The remaining budgets will be awarded points based on a calculation that computes the relative difference of each proposal against the lowest budget submitted. The resulting percentage is then applied to the maximum point value of 25 points.

Note: A completed FS-10: Proposed Budget for the a Federal or State Project

will be required with this application. (see Attachment VII)

XVIII.METHOD OF DETERMINING AWARD AMOUNTS

Grants will be awarded to eligible IHEs following a competitive process that takes into account the following:

A. 2014-2015 SED funding priorities;

B. limits in the State appropriation;

C. reasonableness of the budget in relation to the proposed activities;

D. quality and comprehensiveness of the proposed program;

E.demonstrated effectiveness of current teacher preparation and equity and access programs;

F.potential of the proposed program to serve as an effective model in preparing prospective teachers to meet the needs of at-risk students in high-need districts;

G. adherence to the format and program requirements delineated in the guidelines;

H.evidence of coursework which will address pedagogy, motivation and other

factors related to teaching students at-risk; and

I.a review of the cost proposal which includes adjustments to eliminate non-allowable items and any other items deemed to be inappropriate

Not-for-Profit Applicants

Each eligible proposal will be reviewed by two reviewers. Each reviewer will score the proposal according to the indicated point criteria in the Proposal Narrative and Budget section, using the Evaluation Rubric and the points in the Budget section. If individual scores are more than 20 points apart, another reviewer will rate the application. In those cases, the three scores will be averaged to calculate the final average score of the application. Grant contracts will be awarded in rank order of the highest score to lowest score. If there are funds remaining that will not fully support the next highest ranking application, that applicant will be given the opportunity to receive a partial award. Applicants who receive a score below 65 points will not be eligible to receive an award.

*Note: All not for profit awards will be capped at an amount not to exceed $80,000.00 per year.

For-Profit Applicants

Applications from for-profit organizations will be reviewed and ranked separately from all other applicants. Up to $10,000 will be set aside per year to be shared among for-profit awardees.

Each accepted application from a for-profit organization will be reviewed and rated individually, similar to not-for-profit applications except the budget will be reviewed by the Contract Administration Unit. Applicants who receive a score below 49 (75 points x 65%), will not be eligible to receive an award. Applicant budgets will not be reviewed if not eligible for an award.

For applicants that received a score of 49 or greater, the remaining 25 points allowable for the Adequacy of Resources section which addresses the proposed budget will be evaluated and scored separately according to cost by the Contract Administration Unit. The final score awarded will be the total of the final average technical score (up to 75 points) and the Adequacy of Resources or cost score (up to 25 points).

Awards will be made to for-profit applicants in rank order of score and according to the first, second and third priority groupings used for all other applicants until an insufficient amount of the $10,000 set aside for for-profit applicants is available to fund the next ranking for-profit applicant in full. In the case of a tie score, the applicant with the lower cost will be ranked higher. Any unused funds will be added to the funding available for not-for-profit awardees.

Funding Policy for Subsequent Years in Proposal Cycle

For an increase in appropriation:

1. An increase in appropriation for TOC in any subsequent funding year for up to 20% will result in an across the board increase for all existing TOC projects.

2. An increase in appropriation above 20% will result in an across the board increase of 20% to all existing TOC projects plus an offer of funding to the remaining eligible unfunded projects from the initial pool in rank order.

3. In the event that funds remain after all eligible applicants have received awards, the Department would reserve the right to redistribute remaining funds at an across the board percent increase or re-issue the RFP for the remainder of the three year-cycle.

For a decrease in appropriation, the Department would implement an across the board reduction to all funded applicants.

XIX.PROPOSAL RATING, DEBRIEFING, AWARD PROTEST PROCEDURES

Proposal Rating

Proposals will be rated numerically with a maximum possible score of 100. The applications will be reviewed and rated by two reviewers. A third review will be performed if there is a difference of at least 20 points between the two scores.

Debriefing Procedures

All applicants may request a debriefing within five (5) business days of receiving notice of non-award from NYSED. Applicants may request a debriefing on the selection process regarding this Grant by emailing the request to [email protected].

A summary of the strengths and weaknesses of the application, as well as recommendations for improvement will be emailed back to the applicant within ten (10) business days.

Award Protest Procedures

Applicants who receive a notice of non-award may protest the NYSED award decision subject to the following:

1. The protest must be in writing and must contain specific factual and/or legal allegations setting forth the basis on which the protesting party challenges the contract award by NYSED

2. The protest must be filed within ten (10) business days of receipt of the notice of non-award. The protest letter must be filed with:

NYS Education Department



Room 501W EB

Albany, NY 12234

3. The NYSED Contract Administration Unit (CAU) will convene a review team that will include at least one staff member from each of NYSEDs Office of Counsel, CAU, and the Program Office. The review team will review and consider the merits of the protest and will decide whether the protest is approved or denied. Counsels Office will provide the applicant with written notification of the review teams decision within seven (7) business days of the receipt of the protest. The original protest and decision will be filed with OSC when the contract procurement record is submitted for approval and CAU will advise OSC that a protest was filed.

4. The NYSED Contract Administration Unit (CAU) may summarily deny a protest that fails to contain specific factual or legal allegations, or where the protest only raises issues of law that have already been decided by the courts.

XX.Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) Participation Goals Pursuant to Article 15-A of the New York State Executive Law

The following M/WBE requirements apply when an applicant submits an application for grant funding that exceeds $25,000 for the full grant period.

All forms referenced here can be found in the M/WBE Documents section at the end of this RFP.

All applicants are required to comply with NYSEDs Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE) policy. Compliance can be achieved by one of the three methods described below. Full participation by meeting or exceeding the M/WBE participation goal for this grant is the preferred method.

M/WBE participation includes services, materials, or supplies purchased from minority and women-owned firms certified with the NYS Division of Minority and Women Business Development. Not-for-profit agencies are not eligible for this certification. For additional information and a listing of currently certified M/WBEs, see

https://ny.newnycontracts.com/FrontEnd/VendorSearchPublic.asp?TN=ny&XID=4687

The M/WBE participation goal for this grant is 20% of each applicants total discretionary non-personal service budget over the entire term of the grant. Discretionary non-personal service budget is defined as total budget, excluding the sum of funds budgeted for:

1.direct personal services (i.e., professional and support staff salaries) and fringe benefits; and

2.rent, lease, utilities and indirect costs, if these items are allowable expenditures.

For multi-year grants, applicants should use the total budget for the full multi-year term of the grants in the above calculation. The M/WBE Goal Calculation Worksheet is provided for use in calculating the dollar amount of the M/WBE goal for this grant application.

M/WBE participation does not need to be the same for each year of a multi-year grant.

All requested information and documentation should be provided at the time of submission. If this cannot be done, the applicant will have thirty (30) days from the date of notice of award to submit the necessary documents and respond satisfactorily to any follow-up questions from the Department. Failure to do so may result in loss of funding.

METHODS TO COMPLY

An applicant can comply with NYSEDs M/WBE policy by one of three methods:

1. Full Participation - This is the preferred method of compliance. Full participation is achieved when an applicant meets or exceeds the participation goals for this grant.

COMPLETE FORMS:

M/WBE Goal Calculation Worksheet

M/WBE Cover Letter

M/WBE 100 Utilization Plan

M/WBE 102 Notice of Intent to Participate

2. Partial Participation, Partial Request for Waiver - This is acceptable only if good faith efforts to achieve full participation are made and documented, but full participation is not possible.

COMPLETE FORMS:


M/WBE Cover Letter


M/WBE 101 Request for Waiver


M/WBE 105 Contractors Good Faith Efforts

3. No Participation, Request for Complete Waiver - This is acceptable only if good faith efforts to achieve full or partial participation are made and documented, but do not result in any participation by M/WBE firm(s).

COMPLETE FORMS:


M/WBE Cover Letter

M/WBE 101 Request for Waiver


GOOD FAITH EFFORTS

Applicants must make a good faith effort to solicit NYS certified M/WBE firms as subcontractors and/or suppliers to achieve the goals for this grant. Solicitations may include, but are not limited to: advertisements in minority and women-centered publications; solicitation of vendors found in the NYS Directory of Certified Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (see https://ny.newnycontracts.com/FrontEnd/VendorSearchPublic.asp?TN=ny&XID=4687); and the solicitation of minority and women-oriented trade and labor organizations.

Good faith efforts include actions such as setting up meetings or announcements to make M/WBEs aware of supplier and subcontracting opportunities, identifying logical areas of the grant project that could be subcontracted to M/WBE firms, and utilizing all current lists of M/WBEs who are available for and may be interested in subcontracting or supplying goods for the project.

Applicants should document their efforts to comply with the stated M/WBE goals and submit this with their applications as evidence. Examples of acceptable documentation can be found in form M/WBE 105, Contractors Good Faith Efforts. NYSED reserves the right to reject any application for failure to document good faith efforts.

REQUEST FOR WAIVER

When full participation cannot be achieved, applicants must submit a Request for Waiver (M/WBE 101). Requests for Waivers must be accompanied by documentation explaining the good faith efforts made and reasons they were unsuccessful in obtaining M/WBE participation.

NYSED reserves the right to approve the addition or deletion of subcontractors or suppliers to enable applicants to comply with the M/WBE goals, provided such addition or deletion does not impact the technical proposal and/or increase the total budget.

All payments to Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise subcontractor(s) should be reported to the NYSED M/WBE Program Unit using the M/WBE 103 Quarterly M/WBE Compliance Report. This report should be submitted on a quarterly basis and can be found at

www.oms.nysed.gov/fiscal/MWBE/forms.html.

NYSEDs M/WBE Coordinator is available to assist applicants in meeting the M/WBE goals. The Coordinator can be reached at [email protected].

Equal Employment Opportunity Reporting (EEO) Pursuant to Article 15-A of the New York State Executive Law

Applicants must complete and submit form EEO 100: Staffing Plan.

XXI.VENDOR RESPONSIBILITY

State law requires that the award of state contracts be made to responsible vendors. Before an award is made to a not-for-profit entity, a for-profit entity, a private college or university or a public entity not exempted by the Office of the State Comptroller, NYSED must make an affirmative responsibility determination. The factors to be considered include: legal authority to do business in New York State; integrity; capacity- both organizational and financial; and previous performance. Before an award of $100,000 or greater can be made to a covered entity, the entity will be required to complete and submit a Vendor Responsibility Questionnaire. School districts, Charter Schools, BOCES, public colleges and universities, public libraries, and the Research Foundation for SUNY and CUNY are some of the exempt entities. For a complete list, see:

http://www.osc.state.ny.us/vendrep/resources_docreq_agency.htm.

NYSED recommends that vendors file the required Vendor Responsibility Questionnaire online via the New York State VendRep System. To enroll in and use the New York State VendRep System, see the VendRep System Instructions available at http://www.osc.state.ny.us/vendrep/vendor_index.htm or go directly to the VendRep System online at https://portal.osc.state.ny.us.

Vendors must provide their New York State Vendor Identification Number when enrolling. To request assignment of a Vendor ID or for VendRep System assistance, contact the Office of the State Comptrollers Help Desk at 866-370-4672 or 518-408-4672 or by email at [email protected].

Vendors opting to complete and submit a paper questionnaire can obtain the appropriate questionnaire from the VendRep website www.osc.state.ny.us/vendrep or may contact NYSED or the Office of the State Comptrollers Help Desk for a copy of the paper form.

Subcontractors:

For vendors using subcontractors, a Vendor Responsibility Questionnaire and a NYSED vendor responsibility review are required for a subcontractor where:

the subcontractor is known at the time of the contract award;

the subcontractor is not an entity that is exempt from reporting by OSC; and

the subcontract will equal or exceed $100,000 over the life of the contract

XXII.WORKERS COMPENSATION COVERAGE AND DEBARMENT

New York State Workers Compensation Law (WCL) has specific coverage requirements for businesses contracting with New York State and additional requirements which provide for the debarment of vendors that violate certain sections of WCL. The WCL requires, and has required since introduction of the law in 1922, the heads of all municipal and State entities to ensure that businesses have appropriate workers compensation and disability benefits insurance coverage prior to issuing any permits or licenses, or prior to entering into contracts.

Workers compensation requirements are covered by WCL Section 57, while disability benefits are covered by WCL Section 220(8). The Workers Compensation Benefits clause in Appendix A STANDARD CLAUSES FOR NEW YORK STATE CONTRACTS states that in accordance with Section 142 of the State Finance Law, a contract shall be void and of no force and effect unless the contractor provides and maintains coverage during the life of the contract for the benefit of such employees as are required to be covered by the provisions of the WCL.

Under provisions of the 2007 Workers Compensation Reform Legislation (WCL Section 141-b), any person, or entity substantially owned by that person: subject to a final assessment of civil fines or penalties, subject to a stop-work order, or convicted of a misdemeanor for violation of Workers Compensation laws Section 52 or 131, is barred from bidding on, or being awarded, any public work contract or subcontract with the State, any municipal corporation or public body for one year for each violation. The ban is five years for each felony conviction.

PROOF OF COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS

The Workers Compensation Board has developed several forms to assist State contracting entities in ensuring that businesses have the appropriate workers compensation and disability insurance coverage as required by Sections 57 and 220(8) of the WCL.

Please note an ACORD form is not acceptable proof of New York State workers compensation or disability benefits insurance coverage.

Proof of Workers Compensation Coverage

To comply with coverage provisions of the WCL, the Workers Compensation Board requires that a business seeking to enter into a State contract submit appropriate proof of coverage to the State contracting entity issuing the contract. For each new contract or contract renewal, the contracting entity must obtain ONE of the following forms from the contractor and submit to OSC to prove the contractor has appropriate workers compensation insurance coverage:

1. Form C-105.2 Certificate of Workers Compensation Insurance issued by private insurance carriers, or Form U-26.3 issued by the State Insurance Fund; or

1. Form SI-12 Certificate of Workers Compensation Self-Insurance; or Form GSI-105.2 Certificate of Participation in Workers Compensation Group Self-Insurance; or

1. CE-200 Certificate of Attestation of Exemption from NYS Workers Compensation and/or Disability Benefits Coverage.

Proof of Disability Benefits Coverage

To comply with coverage provisions of the WCL regarding disability benefits, the Workers Compensation Board requires that a business seeking to enter into a State contract must submit appropriate proof of coverage to the State contracting entity issuing the contract. For each new contract or contract renewal, the contracting entity must obtain ONE of the following forms from the contractor and submit to OSC to prove the contractor has appropriate disability benefits insurance coverage:

1. Form DB-120.1 - Certificate of Disability Benefits Insurance; or

1. Form DB-155- Certificate of Disability Benefits Self-Insurance; or

1. CE-200 Certificate of Attestation of Exemption from New York State Workers Compensation and/or Disability Benefits Coverage.

For additional information regarding workers compensation and disability benefits requirements, please refer to the New York State Workers Compensation Board website at: http://www.wcb.ny.gov/content/main/Employers/busPermits.jsp. Alternatively, questions relating to either workers compensation or disability benefits coverage should be directed to the NYS Workers Compensation Board, Bureau of Compliance at (518) 486-6307.

XXIII.CORRESPONDENCE

All correspondence, requests for information, and questions concerning the Teacher Opportunity Corps should be addressed to:

New York State Education DepartmentOffice of Teacher and Leader Effectiveness



Albany, New York 12234

Telephone: (518) 486-6848

[email protected]

TOC-Attachment I

Instructions for Completing Program Objectives, Strategies, Activities, Services and Performance Measures/Data Sources

1. Make as many copies of the forms as needed.

2. Each of the 5 identified TOC Objectives should be addressed.

(see Section XVI-D) Complete one sheet for each objective.

3. Provide all the information requested in each column of the Objectives, Strategies, Activities Matrix (1-5).

4. Funded projects should include strategies that are currently used as well as any new strategies proposed for 2014-2015.

5. Definitions:

Strategies: Describe the process or method TOC projects will use to achieve the TOC objective indicated on the form (how).

Activities/Services: Indicate what TOC project will do to accomplish the TOC objective indicated on the form (action/work).

Staff Responsible: Indicate the staff who will be responsible. Use the title(s) for individuals listed.

Performance Measure: Indicate measurable elements that will indicate accomplishment of the TOC objective listed on the form.

Data Source: Indicate where the data elements are located/drawn from.

Timeframe: Indicate the timeframe(s) for each item listed.

TOC OBJECTIVES AND KEY STRATEGIES

All TOC projects should conduct activities and services that will provide instruction and enrichment services that are aligned with the following objectives. This document provides examples of several key strategies to achieve these objectives.


Strategies

Plan, organize, and implement program models/components that enable teachers/prospective teachers to develop effective classroom strategies in assisting at-risk students to meet the New York State Teaching and Learning Standards.




Strategies

Provide specific coursework that enables participants to acquire the academic content necessary to teach at-risk students and implement successful classroom methodologies that incorporate equity practices.





Objective 3: Align academic content and classroom strategies with New York States Teaching and Learning Standards.

Strategy

Support and collaborate with schools/districts in implementing rigorous course content and performance standards for teachers and all students in their classrooms. See Link: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/ciai/standards.html

Objective 4: Increase the number of teachers who are appropriately certified in New York States high-need schools.

Strategies

Develop collaborative relationships to increase the number of teachers in high-need districts who enroll in programs leading to professional certification.




Strategies




(TOC-Attachment I Objective 1 Instructions for Completing Objectives, Strategies, Activities Matrix)


Strategies Activities/Services

Staff Responsible

Timeframe

Performance Measures/Data Sources




Staff Responsible

Timeframe



Objective 3: Align academic content and classroom strategies with New York States Teaching and Learning Standards.


Staff Responsible

Timeframe


(TOC-Attachment I Objective 4 Instructions for Completing Objectives, Strategies, Activities Matrix)Objective 4: Increase the number of teachers who are appropriately certified in New York States

high-need schools.


Staff Responsible

Timeframe





Staff Responsible

Timeframe


TOC Attachment II Statement of Assurances

Teacher Opportunity Corps

STATEMENT OF ASSURANCES

Institution Name:_________________________________________________________

Program:________________________________________________________________

1. The recipient will, if funded, operate a Teacher Opportunity Corps (TOC) program within the letter and spirit of all pertinent legislation (Chapter 53 of the Laws of 1987) and policies, including the appropriate Guidelines.

2. Funds from this source will supplement, not supplant, local expenditures and will not duplicate expenditures from other sources.

3. All activities supported by grant funds will, to the extent possible, be accessible by persons with disabilities.

4. Upon request, the recipient will provide the State Education Department access to its records and other sources of information concerning the operation of the TOC program.

5. All materials developed in whole or in part with the support of TOC funds, including publicity releases and program announcements, will include the following statement:

Support for the development and production of this material was provided by a grant under the Teacher Opportunity Corps administered by the New York State Education Department.

6. The State funds requested will be used for a continued or expanded program to enhance the preparation of prospective teachers in addressing the learning needs of at-risk pupils and to increase participation in careers in teaching by historically underrepresented individuals. The required partnerships with schools/districts will be arranged with schools with high concentrations of economically disadvantaged students. A listing of Focus Districts is provided in Appendix III and Appendix IV and should be used as the basis for arranging these partnerships. In the event that partnerships have been arranged with schools that are not in a Focus District, documentation that the school(s) has a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, such as 50% or more receiving free or reduced lunch, must be provided. Students benefiting from these funds will be New York State residents.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER CERTIFICATION

I hereby certify that the information in this application is correct and in total compliance with appropriate State laws and regulations and that the program design will be carried out as described in the application.

Signed*_________________________________ Date__________________________

(Chief Executive Officer)

Print name and title _______________________________________________________

*Original signature of Chief Executive Officer is required.

TOC Attachment III Teacher Opportunity Corps 7/1/14-6/30/15 MULT-SOURCE PROPOSED BUDGET

Number of Students to be Served:__________

TOC 7/1/14-6/30/15 PROPOSED BUDGET

Number of Students Served:

ROUND CENTS TO THE NEAREST DOLLAR

Line

No.

Expenditure Category

Code

TOC

(1)

Institution

(2)

Other Sources

(3)

TOTAL

(4)

1

Salaries for Professional Personnel

15

2

Salaries for Non-Professional

Personnel

16

a. Clerical/Secretarial

b. Student Assistants

c. Other

3

Purchased Services

40

4

Supplies & Materials

45

a. Instructional

b. Other

5

Travel Expenses

46

a. Student/Programmatic

b. Staff/Administrative

6

Employee Benefits

80

a. Professional %

b. Clerical/Secretarial %

c. Student Assistants %

d. Other %

7

SUBTOTAL of Lines 1-6

8

Indirect Cost*

90

9

Equipment

20

10

GRAND TOTAL (Lines 7 - 9)

ROUND CENTS TO THE NEAREST DOLLAR.

The minimum 15% Matching Funds must be reported in Columns 2 and or 3.

*The TOC Indirect Cost (column 1) may not exceed 8% of SUBTOTAL (col. 1, line 7). The Institutional Indirect Cost (column 2) may not exceed 20% of SUBTOTAL (col. 2, line 7). Equipment is not included when computing Indirect Cost.

Attachment IV TOC Application

- Institution Name: ______________________________ Page 2 of 2

NYS Higher Education TOC

NYS HIGHER EDUCATION

PROPOSED BUDGET 2014-15 (ROUND CENTS TO NEAREST DOLLAR)

(MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONSCASH AND IN-KIND)

Line

No.

Expenditure Category

Code

XVII. Matching Contributions (Cash and In-Kind)

Institution

(2)

Other Sources

(3)

XVIII. TOTAL

(Col. 2+3)

(4)

1

Salaries for Professional Personnel

15

2

Salaries for Non-Professional

Personnel

16

a. Clerical/Secretarial

b. Student Assistants

c. Other

3

Purchased Services

40

4

Supplies & Materials

45

a. Instructional

b. Other

5

Travel Expenses

46

a. Student/Programmatic

b. Staff/Administrative

6

Employee Benefits

80

a. Professional %

b. Clerical/Secretarial %

c. Student Assistants %

d. Other %

7

SUBTOTAL of Lines 1-6

8

Indirect Cost**

90

9

Equipment

20

10

GRAND TOTAL (Lines 7 - 9)

** The Institutional Indirect Cost (column 2, line 8) may not exceed 20% of SUBTOTAL (col. 2, line 7). Equipment, tuition, stipends, honoraria, and consultant fees over $25,000 per consultant cannot be included in the basis for computing Indirect Cost.

TOC Attachment V Application Checklist

Listed below are the required documents for a complete application package, in the order that they should be submitted. Use this checklist to ensure that your application submission is complete and in compliance with application instructions.

Required DocumentsChecked-Applicant

Checked SED

Application Cover Page with Original Signature of Chief Administrative Officer

|_|

|_|

Payee Information Form http://www.oms.nysed.gov/cafe/forms/PIform.pdf

|_|

|_|

Application Checklist

|_|

|_|

Proposal Narrative

|_|

|_|

FS-10 Budget (signature required) http://www.oms.nysed.gov/cafe

|_|

|_|

Budget Narrative

|_|

|_|

Workers Compensation Documentation (encouraged)

|_|

|_|

Disability Benefits Documentation (encouraged)

|_|

|_|

M/WBE Documents Package (original signatures required)

|_| Full Participation|_| Request Partial Waiver|_| Request Total Waiver

Forms Required

Type of Form

Full Participation

Request Partial Waiver

Request Total Waiver

Calculation of M/WBE Goal Amount

|_|

|_|

|_|

M/WBE Cover Letter

|_|

|_|

|_|


|_|

|_|

N/A


|_|

|_|

N/A


N/A

|_|

|_|

M/WBE 101 Request for Waiver Form and Instructions

N/A

|_|

|_|

EE0 100 Staffing Plan and Instructions

|_|

|_|

|_|

SED Comments:

Has the applicant complied with the application instructions? |_| Yes |_| No

SED Reviewer: ____________________________________ Date: _____________

TOC Attachment V-Page 2

Application Checklist

Applicant Name: _______________________________________________________________

Listed below are the components of a complete appli